Full moon causing people to act weirder

[RexStevens]

Hello all,My name is Rex Stevens,and I'm here to ask for y'all to help, me and my good friend,mr Jose is having a squabble about,(my position is,)full moon causes people to act weirder( he says no.thank you all

[StanBearclaw]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_effect

Quote:

The lunar effect is a theory which overlaps into sociology, psychology and physiology suggesting that there is correlation between specific stages of the Earth's lunar cycle and deviant behavior in human beings. It is a pseudoscientific theory, however. The claims of a correlation of lunar phases to human behavior do not hold up under scientific scrutiny. Over the past 30 years, even more evidence has emerged to stress that this is pseudoscience.

[CJW]

Originally Posted by RexStevens

Hello all,My name is Rex Stevens,and I'm here to ask for y'all to help, me and my good friend,mr Jose is having a squabble about,(my position is,)full moon causes people to act weirder( he says no.thank you all

Rex,

Anectdotes aside, What would your hypothesis be as to why the full moon causes weirdness?

Chris

[arthwollipot]

One of my housemates worked for some time just across the room from the person who took 000 (the Australian equivalent of 911) ambulance calls. She was adamant that there are more calls over the full moon than at other times. Personally, I suggest confirmation bias.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

One of my housemates worked for some time just across the room from the person who took 000 (the Australian equivalent of 911) ambulance calls. She was adamant that there are more calls over the full moon than at other times. Personally, I suggest confirmation bias.

My mother-in-law (to be, anyway) works as a social worker at a hospital and she too says there's a noticeable spike in "incidents" during a full moon. I also suggest confirmation bias.

She's "on call" over weekends and sometimes fills in when things get crazy. All it would take is 2 or 3 incidents like that over as many years where she happens to notice a full moon for such an opinion to form.

All it would take from there is the mere suggestion of full-moon-madness and other staff would similarly make the same connection without really thinking about it too much.

[Arthur Denton]

Actually, the full moon makes people act weird.

I've been, before abandoning this horrendous woo belief, involved with some pagans, wiccans, in fact. Most rituals we did were made under full moon. That's probabily due to the fact that the moon is brigher in those days than in others, you can see things better, and it enabled the folks from the middle ages, for example, to actually see where they were going and party, or celebrate, during the night, which was the (supposedly) only time they would have to do so, because in the other moments they would be working for their lords or on their own land.
The rituals that involve being skyclad (naked) were incouraged to happen in this moment because the moon was supposedly pouring down positive energy to recharge us in these days.

Well, to be honest, I prefer taking sunlight directly from the source, nowadays, but the idea is romantic - moonlight, darkness, woman and man naked, dancing around a fire, wishing for cosmic powers to embrace them and bring them a prosper and decent life.

Well, people feel weird when the full moon is around because it's still considered an event. Even though the moon couldn't care less about us, people are still compeled to feel we are bonded to a world of magic, and therefore, if the moon can stand up there, high and shining in its full splendor, why not adding it to the plethora of gods we have? Worshiping the moon is really old, maybe as old as worshiping the sun.

These days, after I've lost my bonds with the coven I would often visit (I was not yet a part of the group and lost quite a few ceremonies of greater importance) all I can think about the full moon is that it is a beautifull sight - and that the combat between the moon and the earth, using gravity as a weapon, shaped our little realm, or at least, helped shaping our realm, therefore it is also guilty for quite a lot of the wonders of the world. Makes me happy. But not weird.

(I advise that my first sentence is merely an opinion, based on observation. I don't mean the moon magically affect people, I mean it affects people sociologically because we dummies prefer to believe in magick than in science. Yes I love the full moon.)

[kerikiwi]

The full moon turns otherwise (seemingly) normal people into trolls, not werewolves as commonly believed

[KeyserSoze]

My mother has worked as a nurse for years and has made similar claims about the ER being more busy on nights when there is a full moon. One possibility to account for this is that people are more active at night when there is a full moon simply because there is more light outside, and after that it's just a game of odds: more night time activity = more accidents at night time.

[StanBearclaw]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

My mother has worked as a nurse for years and has made similar claims about the ER being more busy on nights when there is a full moon. One possibility to account for this is that people are more active at night when there is a full moon simply because there is more light outside, and after that it's just a game of odds: more night time activity = more accidents at night time.

That would be a plausible explanation for the phenomenon, but the statistics have shown there isn't actually any increase.



Here are some articles from PubMed: http://tinyurl.com/Pubmed-Full-Moon

[HENTAI DOUKYUSEI JP]

Originally Posted by CJW

Rex,

Anectdotes aside, What would your hypothesis be as to why the full moon causes weirdness?

Chris

None.
People just been talking about it and I just told him there is no evidence that supports it.

[RexStevens]

Dear mr CJW,I've came to this from adults when I was young,and experienced it first hand as a young waiter,and years later at present,as a cab driver, but wanted to know if it was coincedence,or if it was fact.

[paximperium]

Originally Posted by RexStevens

Dear mr CJW,I've came to this from adults when I was young,and experienced it first hand as a young waiter,and years later at present,as a cab driver, but wanted to know if it was coincedence,or if it was fact.

Several studies looking at criminal and emergency room visits show no difference between full moon and any other regular day. It is likely confirmation bias.
http://www.skepdic.com/fullmoon.html

[RexStevens]

Howdy again, and thank y'all for taking the time to respond,and the next time I turn into a troll,I will know why.

[six7s]

Originally Posted by Arthur Denton

... it enabled the folks from the middle ages, for example, to actually see where they were going and party, or celebrate, during the night, which was the (supposedly) only time they would have to do so, because in the other moments they would be working for their lords or on their own land.

Or fishing... or hunting... or cleaning their homes and gardens... or - well, anything, really...

[paximperium]

Originally Posted by six7s

Or fishing... or hunting... or cleaning their homes and gardens... or - well, anything, really...

Looking out for werewolves. Don't forget that.

[six7s]

Originally Posted by paximperium

Looking out for werewolves. Don't forget that.

Naturally

[power2012]

I think it's true. Perhaps it doesn't cause criminal behavior, but I bet it makes people more pumped up, hyper, and energetic.

[six7s]

Originally Posted by power2012

I think it's true. Perhaps it doesn't cause criminal behavior, but I bet it makes people more pumped up, hyper, and energetic.

Why? Cos of the minute amounts of (solar) energy in the reflected rays?

[power2012]

Possibly, or perhaps substances and energies we don't fully understand or even detect right now.

It might be a placebo effect or a psychological thing too, maybe people expect it to do that or want it to have that effect, so it does.

Also it affects how animals behave, like dogs and wolves howl at the moon. Is thinking it could affect humans such a big stretch or leap? There are so many things and so many phenomena that scientists cannot fully explain at all

[six7s]

Originally Posted by power2012

Also it affects how animals behave, like dogs and wolves howl at the moon.

No, it does not

[kerikiwi]

Originally Posted by power2012

There are so many things and so many phenomena that scientists cannot fully explain at all

Yes indeed, so many that we don't have to make up ridiculous ones...

[AdinDraco]

Before you need to explain possible mechanisms, showing an actual effect would be wise. Objective studies see no effect. Please don't try to defend an effect that simply isn't happening...

[pakeha]

Originally Posted by power2012

Possibly, or perhaps substances and energies we don't fully understand or even detect right now.

It might be a placebo effect or a psychological thing too, maybe people expect it to do that or want it to have that effect, so it does.

Also it affects how animals behave, like dogs and wolves howl at the moon. Is thinking it could affect humans such a big stretch or leap? There are so many things and so many phenomena that scientists cannot fully explain at all

I'm reposting this link from the second post on this thread:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_effect

Worth reading.

[pakeha]

Originally Posted by StanUpshaw

That would be a plausible explanation for the phenomenon, but the statistics have shown there isn't actually any increase.



Here are some articles from PubMed: http://tinyurl.com/Pubmed-Full-Moon

Thanks for the link, StanUpshaw.
Some fascinating stuff there.

[six7s]

Originally Posted by AdinDraco

Before you need to explain possible mechanisms, showing an actual effect would be wise. Objective studies see no effect. Please don't try to defend an effect that simply isn't happening...

Seconded

-----------

If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinise it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it.
If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence.
The origin of myths is explained in this way.
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Although the language predates the PC era, the sentiment still applies

[arthwollipot]

I think that in addition to the confirmation bias, there's probably a considerable amount of the self-fulfilling prophecy about it as well - people act crazy because they're expected to act crazy.

After all, we do have the words "lunatic" and "lunacy" in the language, which are derived from the Latin Luna - the moon. The link between the moon and madness goes back a long way.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Originally Posted by KeyserSoze

My mother has worked as a nurse for years and has made similar claims about the ER being more busy on nights when there is a full moon. One possibility to account for this is that people are more active at night when there is a full moon simply because there is more light outside, and after that it's just a game of odds: more night time activity = more accidents at night time.

Another possibility is simply noticing the activity when the Moon is full and not noticing THE SAME amount of activity when it isn't. This is what THE EVIDENCE shows to be the case.


People are so gullible. But the evidence is pretty clear in this case.

[Biscuit]

I work as a bouncer for extra cash and I can say for certain that blue moon turns people into A@@holes.

They don't even know its not a microbrew....

[CJW]

Originally Posted by RexStevens

Dear mr CJW,I've came to this from adults when I was young,and experienced it first hand as a young waiter,and years later at present,as a cab driver, but wanted to know if it was coincedence,or if it was fact.

Others in the thread have suggested confirmation bias, as a way to explain why you might think there was a correlation between full moons and weirdness. There are studies cited in this thread that seem to belie that, and lend no support to your hypothesis.

What I was asking you was: if you think that weirdness increases, what do you think is that mechanism that triggers this rise in weirdness? Why is the night of the full moon different than the nights immediately preceding or following?

[Pup]

Out of curiosity, is a belief in the "full moon effect" common in all cultures?

One could make a case that logically, the dark of the moon could just as easily be a time of historical craziness. You could get away with things that might be observed during a full moon, while the darkness would make people more afraid when traveling at night and therefore more apt to misinterpret strangers' behavior, and so forth.

I wonder if the opposite belief (that the dark of the moon causes craziness) is common in any culture, and their confirmation bias has "proven" the opposite to be true?

[paximperium]

Originally Posted by CJW

What I was asking you was: if you think that weirdness increases, what do you think is that mechanism that triggers this rise in weirdness? Why is the night of the full moon different than the nights immediately preceding or following?

I'll play devil's advocate: The Lunar Rhythm is observed in several nocturnal animal species, mostly in fish. These nocturnal hunters link their activity and fishing activities to the brightness of the moon ie. at the height of night time light at the fullmoon, these deeper fish can see prey closer to the surface and therefore feed more during these period and sink deeper in darker time periods.

Humans could have evolved this rhythm to increase our activity during the best time of the month for night time hunting.

[Olowkow]

This is a pretty well written piece:
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3426758&page=1

Check out the video, interview with Shermer. Recommended.

I particularly liked the part where the lady talked about how the moon's gravity was more when it is full, and that is what affects people.

[JoeTheJuggler]

Originally Posted by Arthur Denton

Actually, the full moon makes people act weird.

I've been, before abandoning this horrendous woo belief, involved with some pagans, wiccans, in fact. Most rituals we did were made under full moon.

<snip>

(I advise that my first sentence is merely an opinion, based on observation. I don't mean the moon magically affect people, I mean it affects people sociologically because we dummies prefer to believe in magick than in science. Yes I love the full moon.)

That's no more accurate than saying the apparent alignment of the planets and constellations affects people or "makes people act weird" since so many people believe in astrology.

Neither the moon nor, in the case of astrology, the planets are what causes this bizarre behavior in humans.

[JoeTheJuggler]

Originally Posted by paximperium

Humans could have evolved this rhythm to increase our activity during the best time of the month for night time hunting.

My first instinct was to respond, "Prove it!" but then I realized you were answering CJW's question. I think CJW's question is inappropriate. Before we worry about trying to explain a phenomenon, it's essential to determine whether there is a phenomenon in need of explanation.

I think there is no evidence, in this case, that there is anything in need of explanation.

I get CJW's point, though. It's similar to this part in Phil Plaitt's excellent essay about astrology.

Note, however, that that part of the essay begins, "For just a moment, let's say that there is some force from the planets that can affect us here on Earth. What could it be?"

[paximperium]

Originally Posted by JoeTheJuggler

My first instinct was to respond, "Prove it!" but then I realized you were answering CJW's question. I think CJW's question is inappropriate. Before we worry about trying to explain a phenomenon, it's essential to determine whether there is a phenomenon in need of explanation.

I think there is no evidence, in this case, that there is anything in need of explanation.

I get CJW's point, though. It's similar to this part in Phil Plaitt's excellent essay about astrology.

Note, however, that that part of the essay begins, "For just a moment, let's say that there is some force from the planets that can affect us here on Earth. What could it be?"

I agree. It is not necessary to explain mechanism before studying to see if there is an actual effect. Once an effect is determined to exist, then you can look at a mechanism.

However, plausibility of a mechanism is definitely something that should be considered but should not shut ones mind off completely to a possible effect.

[six7s]

Originally Posted by paximperium

Humans could have evolved this rhythm to increase our activity during the best time of the month for night time hunting.

True, we could have...

Is there anything to suggest that we have (apart from anecdotal evidence, myths, legends, traditions, rituals, etc)?

[CJW]

Originally Posted by JoeTheJuggler

My first instinct was to respond, "Prove it!" but then I realized you were answering CJW's question. I think CJW's question is inappropriate. Before we worry about trying to explain a phenomenon, it's essential to determine whether there is a phenomenon in need of explanation.

I think there is no evidence, in this case, that there is anything in need of explanation.

I get CJW's point, though. It's similar to this part in Phil Plaitt's excellent essay about astrology.

Note, however, that that part of the essay begins, "For just a moment, let's say that there is some force from the planets that can affect us here on Earth. What could it be?"

My main purpose in asking the questions is just to get Rex to try to put a little mental muscle behind his contention. For example, if the weirdness is due to the amount of light reflected from the moon, we should see a gradual increase and decrease in the amount of weirdness as the moon waxes and wanes.

[Aepervius]

The only reason I would think the moon had any effect , would be before the advent of light/electricity everywhere. It certainly would be more easy to sneak around without portable light when the moon light your way, rather than bump in everything during a full moon. Nowadays with portable light easily gotten, the loony can riot 24/7.

[Quinn]

Originally Posted by Olowkow

This is a pretty well written piece:
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3426758&page=1

Check out the video, interview with Shermer. Recommended.

I particularly liked the part where the lady talked about how the moon's gravity was more when it is full, and that is what affects people.

The very last bit of that video is a perfect object lesson in woo behavior. When the woman is confronted with the fact that research has shown her claims to be utterly false, first she argues that in order to see the effect, "they would need to do a global study." Then, when faced with the fact that global studies have been done and she's still wrong, you can practically see the cognitive dissonance going on in her mind before she eventually stutters out this classic line: "But... guess what? Whether it's really working or not, it's still there."

Has there ever been a more naked admission of "belief regardless of reality"?

[Jeff Corey]

Correlation does not imply causality, but causality necessarily implies correlation. Studies dating back a half a century have found no correlation between any measure of loony behavior and the phase of the moon.
Quod erat demonstratum.